Charities Back Terrorists

Charities Back Terrorists

The U.S. government has charged that a group of Islamic charities operating in this country gave material support to terrorists linked with Al-Qaeda and Hamas.

According to an affidavit made public this week, the charities, which were backed by Saudi Arabia, gave money to BMI, a company based in New Jersey. BMI is suspected of transferring funds to three individuals who have been designated terrorists by the American government.

The allegations concern the Muslim World League and an affiliate, the International Islamic Relief Organization. The two charities operated from a common address in northern Virginia. They were raided more than a year ago by American agents.

The money invested in BMI by the two charities is part of a $10 million endowment from unnamed Saudi donors, according to the affidavit by David Kane, an agent with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The affidavit quotes a CIA report that says the Muslim World League "is largely financed by...Saudi Arabia."